Best institutions to study International Policy Analysis
A program that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to relationships among nations and among governments and non-governmental entities.
14 U.S. institutions graduated 180 International Policy Analysis students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 44.0504, a specialization of Public Policy Analysis (CIP 44.05), and leads most directly to the Social Science Research Assistants occupation (BLS SOC 19-4061).
About International Policy Analysis programs
A program that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to relationships among nations and among governments and non-governmental entities. Includes instruction in international politics, governance, financial policy, and security affairs; globalization; economic and social policies of developing nations; and applications to specific public policy topics such as labor and employment, immigration, and human rights.
See also: 51.2210 - International Public Health/International Health.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The International Policy Analysis program, a subset of Public Policy Analysis, focuses on the systematic examination of public policy issues that affect relationships among nations, governments, and non-governmental entities. This program is designed for students interested in understanding international politics, governance, and the complexities of global issues such as immigration, human rights, and economic policies in developing nations.
Students in this program will develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes instruction in international politics, financial policy, security affairs, and the application of analytical techniques to various public policy topics.
Credentials awarded
What International Policy Analysis graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree113 graduates / yr · 8 institutions63%
- Bachelor's degree48 graduates / yr · 6 institutions27%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship9 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.0%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate4 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.2%
- Post-master's certificate4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.1%
Graduates over time
International Policy Analysis completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 47 |
| 2013 | 57 |
| 2014 | 85 |
| 2015 | 80 |
| 2016 | 54 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2018 | 55 |
| 2019 | 101 |
| 2020 | 126 |
| 2021 | 170 |
| 2022 | 184 |
| 2023 | 191 |
| 2024 | 208 |
| 2025 | 180 |
Top 14 institutions for International Policy Analysis, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicMaster's | 38 | 75% | — | — |
| 2 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster's | 25 | 84% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts - Boston Boston, MAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 19 | 49% | — | — |
| 4 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicMaster's | 17 | 69% | — | — |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 17 | 76% | — | $43,837 |
| 6 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 13 | 83% | — | $33,424 |
| 7 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 84% | $33,246 | $40,434 |
| 8 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MOPublicBachelor's | 8 | 42% | — | — |
| 9 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 7 | 92% | $26,873 | $52,403 |
| 10 | Suffolk University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 61% | $28,895 | — |
| 11 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicMaster'sMaster's | 7 | 82% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 96% | $13,333 | $60,057 |
| 13 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 59% | — | — |
| 14 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 77% | $32,060 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Public Policy Analysis field (CIP 44.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where International Policy Analysis graduates come from. Each state links to all Public Policy Analysis programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3 | 55 | Texas A&M University - College Station25 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 38 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus38 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 26 | University of Massachusetts - Boston19 / yr |
| California | 2 | 24 | California State University - Long Beach17 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 13 | University of Connecticut13 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 8 | Missouri Southern State University8 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 7 | Binghamton University7 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 6 | University of Chicago6 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 2 | Central Michigan University2 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Duquesne University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-4061, Social Science Research Assistants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the International Policy Analysis program can pursue careers as Social Science Research Assistants, Political Science Teachers, or Political Scientists. The job outlook for related occupations is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.4%, approximately 5,200 annual openings, and a median wage of $58,040 for those with a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 44.0504
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Social Science Research Assistantsprimary SOC 19-4061 | $61,990 | +4.4% About as fast as average | ~5,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1065 | $98,070 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~1,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Political Scientists SOC 19-3094 | $142,080 | -3.1% Decline | ~500 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in International Policy Analysis programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
- Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
- Perform descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses of data, using computer software.
- Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors.
- Develop and implement research quality control procedures.
Tools and technology used
Other Public Policy Analysis specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Public Policy Analysis (CIP 44.05).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, writing, active listening, and data analysis.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Social Science Research Assistant, Political Science Teacher, or Political Scientist.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.4% and around 5,200 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for International Policy Analysis?+
International Policy Analysis is CIP 44.0504 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Public Policy Analysis (CIP 44.05). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues related to relationships among nations and among governments and non-governmental entities. Includes instruction in international politics, governance, financial policy, and security affairs; globalization; economic and social policies of developing nations; and applications to specific public policy topics such as labor and employment, immigration, and human rights.
How many institutions offer International Policy Analysis programs?+
14 U.S. institutions reported International Policy Analysis graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 180 credentials in the year. That is 3.1% of all Public Policy Analysis graduates.
How much do International Policy Analysis graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Social Science Research Assistants occupation, which International Policy Analysis most directly leads to, pays a median of $61,990 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Public Policy Analysis field report median earnings of $43,837 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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